WorksheetsFossils and Fossil Record
Total questions: 33
Worksheet time: 24mins
Which of the following can be learned by using the fossil record?
When organisms changed or evolved
when organisms appeared on Earth
when organisms became extinct
All the above
What is the best reason that fossil #4 is NOT a good index fossil?
It is not widespread
it is not short-lived (in numerous layers)
It is in half of the outcrops
If you found an index fossil in a layer of rock in Montana and a similar fossil in a layer of rock in Texas, you would know that:
the fossils and rock layers are the same age
the fossils from Montana are older
the fossils from England are older
none of the above
What can the fossil record tell us?
history of life on Earth
groups of organisms changed over long periods of time
Information about the past climate of our Earth
information about the past environments and changes of the Earth's surface
all of these are correct
Which of the follow is INCORRECT about an index fossil?
The fossil must have lived only during a short part of the Earth's history.
Many fossils of the organism must be found in the rock layers.
The fossil must be found over a wide area of the Earth and be unique.
The fossil must only be found in one area.
In which kind of rock do we usually find a fossil?
sedimentary rock
metamorphic rock
igneous rock
If you know the age of a fossil, you know the relative age of the ________________ it was found inside.
sticky tar
rock
amber
ice
If you know the age of a rock, you know the relative age of the _________________ that was found inside.
sticky tar
fossil
amber
ice
Which of the following would be an example of absolute age?
Fossil A is older than Fossil B
Fossil A and Fossil B are the same age
Fossil A is 10 million years old
What are the oldest fossils and why?
B, C- because they are closest to the top
A, B- because they are closest to the bottom
They are all the same age- because they are all found on layer 2
A, B- because they are found closest to the top
Which of the following can be learned by using the fossil record?
When organisms changed or evolved
when organisms appeared on Earth
when organisms became extinct
All the above
If scientists found this fossil in a desert, what could they infer?
what fish are like today
that this fish lacked oxygen
that water once covered the area where this fossil was found
Fossil A is an ancient mollusk, an organism that needs water to survive. Why do you think that the mollusk went extinct in this particular sample of the fossil record?
When the ocean levels rose in layer 4, the mollusk went extinct because they cannot live in water
For some reason, the ocean disappeared causing the mollusk to thrive
For some reason, the ocean disappeared causing the mollusk to go extinct
When the ocean level rose in layer 4, the mollusk thrived because they need water
When did fossil A become extinct?
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3
Layer 4
Organisms D and C clearly lived in an aquatic (water) environment. Organism A does not look like it lived in the water. What is the most likely explanation for this?
The fossil in layer A died on land and was carried to the water
The fossils in layer C and D did not live in the same location as the fossil in layer A
The environment changed over a long period of time. It used to be under water, but is not anymore
